A kick arse Northern Ireland 3 day itinerary – from Titanic to Giant’s Causeway

Here’s the Northern Ireland 3 day itinerary you’ve been looking for! It’s gonna be fun, slick and sunny. OK, two out of three isn’t bad.

I spent a gorgeous 5 days over a bank holiday driving the world’s tiniest hire car – and the sky did nothing but beam down on us! *pinch me*

Wherever you go in Northern Ireland, you can’t get far from Game of Thrones settings. Being honest, this isn’t that itinerary, so if you haven’t seen the show (or aren’t really that arsed about it) but still want to go road trippin’, this’ll suit. For even more fantasy style scenery, Iceland is another great pick.

Northern Ireland 3 day itinerary- perfecting the Northern Ireland roadtrip

I’ve assumed that you’ll mostly be having brekkie in the hotel for this one, but there are tasty suggestions for lunch and dinner.

Here’s how you can organize a 3 day Northern Ireland itinerary that suits you…

What are the things to do in Northern Ireland?

Day 1: Belfast and the Mourne Mountains

Sleep OK? It’s time to rock and roll.

Let’s kick off with the big things. You want to get a taste of the country and then oggle a few skyscrapers – because why not?

Ding the Mourne Mountains into your sat-nav, you’re heading for some history. First stop is the Bloody Bridge. I know the name doesn’t exactly conjure up a peaceful picnic by the river. But yep. That’s what it is.

Also, many centuries ago a group of rebels were slaughtered here. Evidently, they aren’t too metaphorical about names in these parts…

The bridge is a 10 minute walk from the main road, over a style and marked with brown National Trust signs, but now you need to double back, cross the road and head down to the rocky coastline.

You’ve kicked off the morning with zero spend, and even the parking at Bloody Bridge car park is free, which leaves you room to have a lot of fun in the city when you get back.

Round it all off with a lovely picnic on the bridge before you get back in the car.

Belfast

You want to see Belfast’s epic monument (and exhibition centre and quarter, and street name and… ) to the Titanic on your Northern Ireland itinerary.

Anyone reckon Leo Dicaprio should’ve def got that Oscar sooner? – Never mind.

If the intrigue and the opulence of the story hasn’t already got you, Jack and Rose definitely brought the ship back to the top of our bucket lists. By the way, there was for sure room for two on that door though, right?

Bargain alert  If you enter an hour before Titanic Belfast closes, you can visit for around 11. Admittedly, you’ll need to trot through some of the peripheral stuff (does anyone really need to comb through Belfast’s industrial past?) and straight up to floor four where the actual ship’s tale starts. There’s enough time to see all the bits you care about, and it’s a cracking deal.

Before you sleep, what about an Irish stew?

Day 2: Cushendun Caves, Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway

The locals around the Belfast suburbs have a well kept secret, and it’s The Coffee House Bistro at 126 Stewartstown Road.

It’s jammed with locals, all tucking into enormous breakfasts at really good prices – starting from just a fiver. You need to try it! We also got an almost limitless supply of local details and info from the friendly owners – nothing was too much trouble.

Now you’re fuelled up, you want to go north but don’t let the sat-nav push you onto the main roads. The coastal road is windy and slower, but it’s also a stunner. No driving tour would be complete without it.

Your first stop is in a small village of Cushendun. Go over the bridge and turn right immediately, coming to a dead end road which meets a field. It looks like free parking, or at least, there are no yellow lines or ticket machines and everyone parks there.

Nip over the bridge on foot and take the second left, walking along a residential road. Right at the end and very easy to miss is a private property with a sign saying ‘public access to the caves’.

Get down there and have a good explore. Duck into every cave before you leave – they’re pretty damn cool.

Opposite where you parked is the Corner House Cafe where you’ll get home cooked big meals (around 20 pounds), ice creams and drinks.

Back behind the wheel and off for about 50 minutes along the coast. You’re going to Dunluce Castle, even though it’s not the next stop geographically. The reason is that it closes earlier, whereas the Causeway is open to the public any time.

Relax, you have lots of time.

Potter around and read about the history for as long as you like.

The most instagrammable spots at Dunluce Castle

Whipping out your camera is irresistible here. For a far off shot, walk towards the castle from the car park and bear right when you come to the first embankment.

Once you’re inside, the magic happens when through the rooms that are closest to the see, turn sharp left as you enter the last room and go to the big window in the wall. Coastline – tick, impressive ruins – tick.

How to visit Giant’s Causeway for free

You don’t have to pay to visit the causeway. In fact, here’s the very cheapest way to do it – tried and tested.

The National Trust has opened up a visitor’s centre at the causeway, and tickets are 8.50, including parking.

I’m a big fan of the National Trust, but a poll of random people I know and internet comments comes out unanimous that it’s not worth the fee here – and there’s nothing much to see in the visitor centre.

Help the charity out tomorrow with a ticket to Carrick-a-rede and maybe eat in their tea room too.

But today, you can just turn right in front of the (honestly really ugly) visitor centre and through a huge round tunnel to the causeway approach. It’s completely FREE.

Walking down will take about 20 minutes or there’s a mini bus that can take you either way for a pound. Take it from me, you’ll want this on the way back even if you walk down. That shizzle is steep.

How to park at Giant’s Causeway for free

Using the National Trust’s car park is included in the cost of the entrance to their visitor centre, and so you can’t park there if you’re taking the free route. No bueno.

There’s an easy fix, though. Park at the The Nook, a pub just minutes from where everyone’s going. The car park is free so long as you buy some food or drink – but you’ll be peckish anyway, right?

I went in peak season and they had lots of parking spots, so this one’s a winner.

Day 3: Larrybane, The Dark Hedges and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

A couple of big hitters for today. Larrybane sits by the entrance to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, so if you’re there on a peak weekend (like a bank holiday) you’ll want to swing by and pick up tickets with an allotted time to see the bridge, have a wonder around its neighbouring attractions and kill time until your moment.

On some days, you’ll be able to go straight over the bridge with no wait, of course.

Larrybane is an enormous sheer-faced quarry, and blinding white in the sun, close to the National Trust’s (free with entrance to Carrick-a-rede) car park. Walk around to its eastern side, closest the sea and there’s a concrete shack which looks like an old war relic. You can just see the bridge from up there too, in the distance.

Next you can take a quick stop at the Dark Hedges, which really do look as impressive as the photos you’ve oggled own. This and Larrybane are both unticketed, and open any time.

Corr, it’d be amazing at dusk.

The icing on the cake is crossing that rope bridge, so drive the 30 minutes or so back to the coastline. If you’d rather go with a full belly, you can buy sticky honeycomb, cakes, crumpets and other fancies from the National Trust tea room.

You’re expected to be there 15 minutes early for your crossing, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the time. Especially as it’s a fair walk of around a mile (with plenty of steep bits) to the bridge from where you leave your car.

Totally worth it, though.

Eyes up, try not to watch the pounding of the waves beneath you! In strong winds, it’s best to have lots of people on the bridge as weight helps to stabilise it. But if the weather’s calm, you might try to walk alone as the bridge does shake when strangers step behind you.

Take a walk and gander around this small island before you make the return journey – it’s really pretty!

So that’s it, mission accomplished – enjoy your Northern Ireland 3 day itinerary! Leave me a comment below and let me know how your adventures went.

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Danni Lawson

A small town girl on a mission to live in 10 different countries before she pops her clogs, Danni began travelling with a job in Peru at the age of 18. Now an expert in living and working abroad, she shares all the tips and tricks you need to get started.

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